Leviticus 3 – Lessons for Finding God’s Peace and Fellowship

Introduction. Even though many believers accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, they struggle to find peace. Nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. Alcoholism and drug abuse is widespread. Believers are stressed out. Many know the promise that Christ offers the peace that surpasses all understanding: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7). Yet, many believers don’t know how to find this peace. What is a stressed out believer to do? The first five chapters of Leviticus offer the solution. The discussion in Chapter 3 regarding the peace offering is the most important. It sets forth the general principles for understanding God’s peace. Some of these general principles involve lessons from the first two chapters in Leviticus. Chapter 3 then offers seven specific “spiritual sacrifices” (1 Pet. 2:5) for the person looking to find peace with God.

General principles for finding peace with God. There are seven principles for finding God’s peace. First, a person must understand that God’s peace is not possible without the atonement of sin through the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22). Today, accepting Christ’s blood sacrifice at the cross is the only means to atone for sin. Second, in order to find true fellowship, a saved believer must also make his or her life a “living sacrifice” for God (Ro. 12:1). Third, true fellowship requires that a believer walk with God in obedience to Him. Fourth, the New Testament reveals that Jesus is the source of any believer’s peace. Fifth, finding true peace comes by setting your expectations to be looking for peace within times of suffering, not to be freed from suffering. Sixth, God’s peace provides the ability to respond to stress without becoming stressed out. Finally, God’s peace requires that believers serve Him with the right motives.

Specific lesson on finding God’s peace from Leviticus Chapter Three. From the animal sacrifices listed in Chapter three, God reveals seven specific things that are needed for His peace. First, He reveals that a believer must make spiritual sacrifices on a daily basis. Second, from the sacrifice of the lamb, He reveals that true peace requires submission to Him. Third, from the sacrifices, He reveals that true peace requires that you give back to Him and others in proportion to the amount that you have been given. Fourth, from the sacrifice of the organs that cleanse the body, He also reveals that true peace requires that you keep yourself pure on the inside from the unclean things of the world. Fifth, He reveals that self-denial is an important requirement to finding true peace. Sixth, He reveals that true peace requires obedience. Finally, He reveals that a believer must sincerely search out His fellowship with the believer’s entire heart.

Leviticus Chapter 3: “1Now if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he is going to offer out of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before the Lord. He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and slay it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar. From the sacrifice of the peace offerings he shall present an offering by fire to the Lord, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. Then Aaron’s sons shall offer it up in smoke on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire; it is an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord. But if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord is from the flock, he shall offer it, male or female, without defect. If he is going to offer a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the Lord, and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and slay it before the tent of meeting, and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar. From the sacrifice of peace offerings he shall bring as an offering by fire to the Lord, its fat, the entire fat tail which he shall remove close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, 10 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. 11 Then the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire to the Lord. 12 ‘Moreover, if his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord, 13 and he shall lay his hand on its head and slay it before the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar. 14 From it he shall present his offering as an offering by fire to the Lord, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, 15 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. 16 The priest shall offer them up in smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire for a soothing aroma; all fat is the Lord’s. 17 It is a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall not eat any fat or any blood.’” (Lev. 3:1-17).

I. Seven General Principles to Finding Peace with God.

1. Accepting Christ’s Atoning Sacrifice is the First Step in Restoring Fellowship with God.

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2. A Life Offering For Christ is the Second Step in Restoring Fellowship with God.

3. Fellowship with God Requires a Believer to Walk with God

4. Jesus Offers a More Intimate Relationship With Believers Who Seek After Him.

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5. Finding Peace and Fellowship Does Not Mean a Life Without Suffering.

6. God’s Peace is the Ability to Respond to Stress without Becoming Stressed Out.

7. Finding Peace Requires that We Make “Spiritual Sacrifices” With the Right Motives.

II. Seven Specific Principles to Finding Peace and Fellowship with God. Leviticus 3:1-17.

1. Principle No. 1 –Let Christ be Your Shalom by Seeking After Him Daily.

2. Principle No. 2 –Let Christ be Your Shalom by Submitting to Him Daily.

3. Principle No. 3 – Each Person Must Give According to What He or She Has Been Given

4. Principle No. 4 – You Cannot Find Shalom Without Denying Your Flesh Daily to God

5. Principle No. 5 – You Cannot Find Shalom Unless You Keep Yourself Pure Inside

6. Principle No. 6 -Fellowship with God Requires Obedience.

7. Principle No. 7 – To Find Shalom, You Must Search For Jesus with All Your Heart.